MusaTime to Drop Thierno Barry: Everton Must Bin the Attitude and Back the Academy Kids
In the cut-throat world of Premier League football, attitude matters as much as ability. Everton fans have always prided themselves on players who wear the shirt with pride, graft like their lives depend on it, and put the club above personal grievances. Thierno Barry, the 23-year-old French striker signed from Villarreal in what now feels like a costly gamble, has shown the exact opposite in recent weeks. After a stinking cameo in the Merseyside Derby and his tone-deaf defence of his mates following the Arsenal ticket fiasco, it’s time to say enough is enough. Barry should be nowhere near David Moyes’ first-team squad. Instead, give one of our promising academy kids – like the exceptional young talent Braiden Graham – the well-deserved chance he’s earned.4525
Let’s start with the Derby. Everton travelled to the new-look Merseyside clash at Hill Dickinson Stadium (or whatever corporate rebrand they’re calling Anfield these days) and pushed Liverpool all the way in a pulsating 2-1 defeat on Sunday. Beto, the big Portuguese target man, had been a revelation – full of energy, winning aerial battles, and even netting the equaliser to send the away end into delirium. Then, on 73 minutes, Moyes turned to his bench and introduced Barry. What followed was 20-odd minutes of pure frustration for every Blue in the ground. Barry managed just 10 touches. No shots. No meaningful involvement. And worst of all? The body language screamed indifference. While Liverpool piled on the pressure late on, Barry was jogging at best, standing still at worst, offering zero pressing intensity or movement off the ball. Chris Sutton and plenty of pundits picked up on it live: just before Virgil van Dijk’s winner, Barry failed to make the simple run that might have created an outlet. Fans weren’t slow to react – boos rang out, and social media lit up with accusations of a “stinking attitude.” This wasn’t nerves or rust. This was a player who looked like he couldn’t be bothered. In a derby. At Everton. Where the badge means everything.25
It wasn’t an isolated incident. Barry’s languid style has been a talking point since he arrived. Yes, he’s shown flashes – that late winner against Newcastle earlier in the season was pure class, and his physicality can trouble defenders on his day. But too often he drifts through games with the air of someone who thinks the hard yards are beneath him. Evertonians don’t tolerate that. We’ve had cult heroes like Duncan Ferguson, Tim Cahill, and even modern grafters like Séamus Coleman who ran through brick walls for the cause. Barry’s cameo felt like a betrayal of that DNA. When the team needed a spark in the biggest game of the season, he offered apathy. Moyes, a manager who values work-rate above all, must be fuming privately. If this is the standard Barry sets when the chips are down, he has no place in the squad heading into the run-in.26
But the Derby was just the latest chapter in a saga that’s soured Barry’s relationship with the fanbase. Rewind to mid-March and the trip to the Emirates. Everton were beaten 2-0 by Arsenal in a game that was tighter than the scoreline suggested. Late goals from Viktor Gyökeres and young Max Dowman sealed it for the Gunners. In the away end, chaos erupted. Footage emerged of a scuffle involving a group of supporters. Barry, who’d come off the bench himself, took to Instagram immediately after the full-time whistle. He posted a clip of the altercation and slammed Everton fans for “unacceptable” behaviour, claiming his friends had been “attacked” and needed escorting out by security and police for their safety. “Football should be a place where everyone feels safe and respected,” he wrote. “This type of attitude has no place in the game.”4
Fair enough on the surface – no one wants violence in the stands. But the backlash was instant and ferocious. Social media detectives quickly pointed out that the group in question appeared to be celebrating Arsenal’s goals. Rumours swirled that Barry had used his ticket allocation to give seats to mates who were Arsenal supporters (or at least not die-hard Evertonians). Everton fans, who sacrifice holidays, wages, and weekends for those precious away tickets, felt robbed. Allocations are gold dust, especially at places like the Emirates. Barry doubled down the next day with a follow-up post insisting he’d never given tickets to Arsenal fans. His guests, he said, had followed him loyally from Beveren to Basel to Villarreal and now Everton. Some were even wearing Barry Everton shirts. He claimed other people linked to “another Everton player” were the ones mistaken for celebrating. Police and the club launched investigations, but the damage was done. Barry was booed on his next substitute appearance against Chelsea. Fans felt he’d prioritised his personal circle over the club and its supporters. Defending mates who (at best) showed zero awareness in the Everton end – or (at worst) took the mick – came across as disloyal at best, arrogant at worst.2
This isn’t just about one bad sub or one Instagram story. It’s a pattern. Barry arrived at Goodison with huge promise – a £27m signing tipped as the next big thing after his rapid rise through Belgium and Spain. At 23 he’s still young, but he’s not a raw teenager. He’s a senior pro with Premier League ambitions. Yet his body language, his social media choices, and his apparent disconnect from the Everton way have left fans questioning whether he truly gets what it means to play for this club. In a season where Everton are scrapping for every point amid off-field pressures, you need characters who buy into the fight. Barry’s actions suggest he’s more focused on his own narrative than the collective one.
Which brings us to the positive flip side of this mess: our academy. Everton have a proud history of blooding homegrown talent – from Wayne Rooney and Ross Barkley to more recent graduates like Jarrad Branthwaite. The youth setup under the new regime has continued to produce. Enter “this kid” – the one fans on pages like Essential Everton are clamouring for. Comments following the original call-out point straight to young Braiden Graham, a Northern Ireland-linked prospect who’s been tearing it up for the U18s and U21s. One fan who knows him from his Linfield days raves: “The sky is the limit… exceptional talent, very level-headed & just wants to learn & improve.” Others mention physical maturity issues but insist there’s “nothing to lose” by throwing him in as Beto’s backup for the run-in. Graham (and others like him in the striking department) embody everything Barry currently lacks: hunger, humility, and a desire to prove himself for the badge.45
Giving these lads a chance isn’t just sentimentality – it’s smart football. Everton operate under strict financial constraints. Every penny counts. Promoting from within costs nothing in transfer fees and wages while building squad depth and long-term value. A young striker thrown into the mix against tired legs late in games brings energy, fearlessness, and that raw desire to impress that can spark a dressing room. We’ve seen it before: kids who seize their moment become legends. Barry, for all his potential, has had his chances and looks increasingly like a luxury we can’t afford – both financially and culturally.
Moyes has built his career on pragmatism and giving opportunities where they’re earned. The Derby showed Beto’s value; now it’s time to back the next wave. Drop Barry from the squad entirely for the next few games. Let him reflect on what it means to represent Everton. Use the minutes for a kid like Braiden Graham or whichever academy forward is knocking on the door. The message to the dressing room would be crystal clear: attitude and commitment come first. Talent without heart gets you nowhere at this club.
Everton fans have suffered enough false dawns and expensive missteps. The Arsenal ticket saga and the Derby cameo have crystallised what many suspected: Thierno Barry isn’t the right fit right now. It’s not personal – it’s about standards. Bin him from the first-team picture and give the kids the platform. One of them could be the next hero in royal blue. That’s how you rebuild a club the Everton way – with passion, not petulance. Come on you Blues. Trust the kids. The future starts now.
Musa
